Salt water activated emergency lighting device

ABSTRACT

A salt water activated emergency lighting device has a body, an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, a water supply module, a draining module and a light board. The body has a first compartment and a second compartment with a through hole therebetween. The anode electrode is mounted in the second compartment. The cathode electrode is mounted through a periphery of the second compartment. When the mains power is down, the water supply module unblocks the through hole, and salt water in the first compartment enters the second compartment. Salt water further reacts with the anode electrode and the cathode electrode in generation of power supplied to the light board for emergency lighting. When the mains power comes back, the through hole is blocked, and the draining module pumps the salt water in the second compartment back to the first compartment. Such cycling fulfills environmental protection without consuming electrode plates unnecessarily.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an emergency lighting device, and more particularly to a salt water activated emergency lighting device generating and supplying power for emergency lighting by cycling salt water therein as an electrolyte.

2. Description of the Related Art

Emergency lighting devices are mounted in modern buildings to provide lighting when failure of city power occurs due to fire, earthquake or the like or when regular lighting devices fail to function.

However, conventional emergency lighting devices employ lead acid batteries to supply power for emergency lighting, and the electrolyte therein continuously contacts the anode and cathode so as to keep reacting with the anode and cathode for power generation. Consequently, the lead acid batteries in the conventional emergency lighting devices that tend to be weaker in charging capability as time elapses and need to be replaced periodically cause operational inconvenience. Additionally, disposal of recycled lead acid batteries is usually carried out by burying them in the ground. The diluted sulfuric acid used as the electrolyte in the lead acid batteries ends up spilling out from the batteries and into the soil. Since diluted sulfuric acid is toxic, the recycling of the lead acid batteries indeed contaminates the soil and results in environmental pollution. Hence, the conventional emergency lighting devices need to be further improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a salt water activated emergency lighting device generating and supplying power for emergency lighting by cycling salt water as an electrolyte therein.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the salt water activated emergency lighting device has a body, an anode electrode plate, at least one cathode electrode plate, a water supply module, a draining module and a light board.

The body has a first compartment, a second compartment, a through hole, a salt water filling hole, a pumped water inlet and at least one opening. The first compartment is hollow for storing salt water. The second compartment is hollow and located underneath the first compartment. The through hole is formed through a bottom wall of the first compartment. The salt water filling hole is formed through a top wall of the first compartment. The pumped water inlet is formed through a sidewall of the first compartment. The at least one opening is formed through a periphery of the second compartment.

The anode electrode plate is mounted in the second compartment.

The at least one cathode electrode plate is respectively mounted in and sealing the at least one opening of the second compartment.

The water supply module has a position control member and a water stopper. The water stopper is mounted in the second compartment, and is connected with the position control member through a string and controlled by the position control member to selectively block the through hole.

The draining module has a water pump, a water hose, a water level sensor and a control board. The water pump is mounted under a bottom of the second compartment. One end of the water hose is connected with the water pump, and the other end of the water hose is connected to the pumped water inlet on the first compartment. The water level sensor is mounted under the bottom of the second compartment. The control board is mounted on the bottom of the second compartment, and is electrically connected with the cathode electrode plate, the anode electrode plate, the water level sensor and the water pump.

The light board is electrically connected with the control board of the draining module and has multiple light-emitting diodes.

When the AC mains power is normal, the position control member tightens the water stopper through the string to block the through hole between the first compartment and the second compartment, and salt water in the first compartment is sealed in the first compartment from entering the second compartment. When the AC mains power is abnormal or down, the position control member releases the water stopper to unblock the through hole, and salt water thus enters the second compartment through the through hole to serve as an electrolyte and react with the anode electrode plate and the cathode electrode plate so as to generate and supply power to the light board through the control board.

When the power condition is back to normal, the position control member tightens the string to block the through hole with the water stopper again, and the water pump pumps the salt water in the second compartment back to the first compartment through the water hose. As there is no salt water left in the second compartment to react with the anode electrode plate and cathode electrode plate, no electricity is generated.

Beside the advantage that using salt water therein causes no concern of environmental protection, the emergency lighting device lets salt water in the first compartment flow into the second compartment only during an abnormal power condition and a power failure. As a consequence, the anode electrode plate and the at least one cathode electrode plate has no prolonged contact and reaction with salt water consistently. The consumption of the anode electrode plate and the at least one cathode electrode plate is relatively lower, and the life duration of the water battery or the emergency lighting device is extended.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a salt water activated emergency lighting device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the salt water activated emergency lighting device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view in partial section of the salt water activated emergency lighting device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an operational side view in partial section of the salt water activated emergency lighting device in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is another operational side view in partial section of the salt water activated emergency lighting device in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, a salt water activated emergency lighting device in accordance with the present invention has a body 10, an anode electrode plate 20, at least one cathode electrode plate 30, a water supply module 40, a draining module 50 and a light board 60.

The body 10 has a first compartment 11 and a second compartment 12, a through hole 13, a salt water filling hole 14, a pumped water inlet 15, a water level control compartment 121, at least one opening 122, a salt water filling tube 141, a cap 142. The first compartment 11 and the second compartment 12 are hollow and partitioned in the body 10, and the second compartment 12 is located underneath the first compartment 11. The through hole 13 is formed through a bottom wall of the first compartment 11. The salt water filling hole 14 is formed through a top wall of the first compartment 11 for salt water to be filled into the first compartment 11 through the salt water filling hole 14. The pumped water inlet 15 is formed through a sidewall of the first compartment 11. The water level control compartment 121 is formed on a bottom of the second compartment 12 and communicates with the second compartment 11. The at least one opening 122 is formed through a periphery of the second compartment 12. In the present embodiment, the body 10 has two openings 122 formed through each of a front wall and a rear wall of the second compartment 12. The salt water filling tube 141 is formed through the top wall of the first chamber 11 to align with the salt water filling hole 14. The cap 142 is mounted on and covers a top of the salt water filling tube 141.

The anode electrode plate 20 is mounted in the second compartment 12. In the present embodiment, the anode electrode plate 20 is perpendicularly mounted in the second compartment 12 and is parallel with a front wall and a rear wall of the second compartment 12.

Each one of the at least one cathode electrode plate 30 is mounted in a corresponding opening 122 to seal the opening 122 of the second compartment 12, and is separated form the anode electrode plate 20 by a distance. In the present embodiment, the salt water activated emergency lighting device has four cathode electrode plates 30 respectively mounted in two openings 122 of each of the front wall and the rear wall of the second compartment 12, and being parallel with the anode electrode plate 20. The anode electrode plate 20 may be made from a magnesium alloy. The at least one cathode electrode plate 30 may be made from a mixture of carbon powder and polytetrafluoroethene (PTFE), which is not further discussed here in details as it is known to persons skilled in the art.

The water supply module 40 has a position control member 41 and a water stopper 42. The position control member 41 is mounted on a top of the body 10, and may be a solenoid valve. The water position control member 41 has a shaft 411 slidably mounted therethrough. The water stopper 42 is mounted in the second compartment 12, and is connected with one end of a string 43. The other end of the string is connected with the shaft 411 of the water position control member 41 through the through hole 13 and the first compartment 11. The water stopper 42 moves down or up to unblock or block the through hole 13 when the shaft 411 extends or retracts to release or tighten the string 43. In the present embodiment, the body further has a hanger 44 mounted on the top of the body 10. The string 43 can be connected to the shaft 411 of the water position control member 41 after penetrating through the first compartment 11, and is wound around the hanger 44 to secure a smoother movement of the water stopper 41.

The draining module 50 has a water pump 51, a water hose 52, a water level sensor 53 and a control board 54. The water pump 51 and the water level sensor 53 are mounted under the bottom of the second compartment 12. One end of the water hose 52 is connected to the water pump 51, and the other end of the water hose 52 is connected to the pumped water inlet 15 on the first compartment 11. The control board 54 is mounted on the bottom of the second compartment 12, has a timer 541 mounted therein, and is electrically connected with the at least one cathode electrode plate 30, the anode electrode plate 20, the water level sensor 53 and the water pump 51. In the present embodiment, the water pump 51 and the water level sensor 53 are mounted through a sidewall of the water level control compartment 121, and the water level sensor 53 has two sensor terminals 531. The control board 54 detects a water level in the water level control compartment 121 through the sensor terminals 531, and determines if the second compartment 12 still has salt water therein.

The light board 60 is electrically connected with the control board 54 of the draining module 50 for power acquisition, and has multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 61 mounted thereon.

In the present embodiment, the cathode electrode plates 30 and the anode electrode plate 20 are electrically connected with the control board 54 of the draining module 50 through an amplifier 70. The amplifier 70 amplifies voltage generated by the at least one cathode electrode plate 30 and the anode electrode plate 20. The amplifier 70 has a power socket 71 for charging an external device, such as a mobile phone, by plugging a power plug of the external device in the power socket 71 when the emergency lighting device is operated.

The emergency lighting device further has an enclosure 80 mounted outside the body 10. The light board 60, the power socket 71 on the amplifier 70 may be mounted through the enclosure 80 and accessible from outside the enclosure 80. The enclosure 80 further has an LED lens 82 and a switch 81. The LED lens 82 is mounted on the enclosure 80 and aligns with the light board 60 to diffuse light of the LEDs in a wider lighting range. The switch 81 is mounted through the enclosure 80, and is electrically connected with the control board 54 of the draining module 50 to switch on or off power supplied through the power socket 71. The salt water filling tube 141 of the body 10 is mounted through a top of the enclosure 80.

When the emergency lighting device is operated, salt water is filled into the first compartment 11 of the body 10 through the salt water filling hole 14. When the AC mains power is normal, the position control member 41 of the draining module 40 is powered on, and the water stopper 42 is moved up through the string 43 to tightly seal the through hole 13, so that salt water is unable to enter the second compartment 12. Right after being powered by the AC mains power, the control board 54 of the draining module 50 activates the water pump 51 to start pumping at an idle speed for a while, such as 10 to 16 seconds. When the AC mains power is abnormal or goes off, the position control member 41 is powered off, the string 43 is released, and the water stopper 42 moves down to unblock the through hole 13. Thus, salt water in the first compartment 11 flows to the second compartment 12 through the through hole 13 to serve as an electrolyte between the anode electrode plate 20 and the cathode electrode plates 30 in generation of power. The control board 54 of the draining module 50 then acquires and supplies power to the light board 60, and the LEDs 61 of the light board 60 emit light to provide emergency lighting accordingly.

When the AC mains power comes back, the position control member 41 of the draining module 40 is powered on and tightens the string 43 so that the water stopper 42 blocks the through hole 13 between the first compartment 11 and the second compartment 12 again. The water pump 51 of the draining module 42 pumps salt water in the second compartment 12 to the first compartment 11 until no salt water is left or no power is supplied to the light board 60. After detecting that the second compartment 12 has no salt water left, the control board 54 stops the water pump 51.

The present invention can employ a water battery and non-toxic salt water as the electrolyte to supply power to the light board 60 for emergency lighting when the AC mains power is abnormal or down, thereby fulfilling environmental protection. Additionally, salt water flows from the first compartment 11 to the second compartment 12 only when the AC mains power is abnormal or down. Hence, the anode electrode plate 20 and the cathode electrode plate 30 have no prolonged contact with salt water consistently in generation of electricity. The consumption of the anode electrode plate 20 and the cathode electrode plate 30 is thus relatively lower, and the supplied power is not lessened with time.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A salt water activated emergency lighting device, comprising: a body having: a first compartment being hollow for storing salt water; a second compartment being hollow and located underneath the first compartment; a through hole formed through a bottom wall of the first compartment; a salt water filling hole formed through a top wall of the first compartment; a pumped water inlet formed through a sidewall of the first compartment; and at least one opening formed through a periphery of the second compartment; an anode electrode plate mounted in the second compartment; at least one cathode electrode plate respectively mounted in and sealing the at least one opening of the second compartment; a water supply module having: a position control member; and a water stopper mounted in the second compartment, and connected with the position control member through a string and controlled by the position control member to selectively block the through hole; a draining module having: a water pump mounted under a bottom of the second compartment; a water hose, wherein one end of the water hose is connected with the water pump, and the other end of the water hose is connected to the pumped water inlet on the first compartment; a water level sensor mounted under the bottom of the second compartment; and a control board mounted on the bottom of the second compartment, and electrically connected with the cathode electrode plate, the anode electrode plate, the water level sensor and the water pump; and a light board electrically connected with the control board of the draining module and having multiple light-emitting diodes.
 2. The salt water activated emergency lighting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body has two openings formed through each of a front wall and a rear wall of the second compartment; and the salt water activated emergency lighting device has four cathode electrode plates mounted in and sealing the openings of the second compartment.
 3. The salt water activated emergency lighting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the body further has a water level control compartment formed on the bottom of the second compartment and communicating with the second compartment; and the water pump and the water level sensor are mounted through a sidewall of the water level control compartment, and the water level sensor has two sensor terminals.
 4. The salt water activated emergency lighting device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: a salt water filling tube formed through the top wall of the first chamber and aligning with the salt water filling hole; an enclosure mounted outside the body; an amplifier having a power socket mounted through the enclosure; and a light-emitting diode lens mounted on the enclosure and aligning with the light board; wherein the light board is mounted through the enclosure.
 5. The salt water activated emergency lighting device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the body further has a hanger mounted on a top of the body, and the string is connected to the water position control member after penetrating through the first compartment and is wound around the hanger.
 6. The salt water activated emergency lighting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the position control member is a solenoid valve, is mounted on the top of the body, and has a shaft slidably mounted therethrough and connected with one end of the string penetrating through the first compartment. 